Key holder



Nov. 19, 1963 G. A. GOESSLING KEY HOLDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 25, 1962 FIG.6

FIG]

Nov. 19, 1963 G. A. GOESSLING 3,111,152

' KEY HOLDER Filed Jan. 25, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 yuwf lfwmagd Irwin 7 United States Patent 3,111,152 KEY HOLDER Gerald A. Goessling, 22 Ridgetop, Richmond Heights 17, Mo. Filed Jan. 25, 1962, Ser. No. 168,659 7 Claims. ((31. 150-35) The present invention relates to a key holder and in particular, relates to a one-piece plastic key holder having an enclosed cavity therein.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a key holder which is made from a suitable plastic in a smiple molding operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece key holder which is folded upon itself to secure objects, such as coins, pills, cards, etc. therebetween.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro vide a one-piece plastic key holder which is folded upon itself to secure the free end of an integral key retaining loop.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece combination key holder and article receptacle having a folded together body portion, one part of which is provided with an advertising insert secured therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a key holder and article receptacle which is folded upon itself to define an enclosed cavity suitable for storing coins, pills, cards, etc., and in which the means for securing the folded together sides also anchors the free end of an integrally molded key retaining loop which can be engaged or disengaged from the securing means for attaching and removing keys therefrom.

Another object is to provide a key holder having an integral folded together body having a cavity therein with the sides of said cavity being formed of a transparent material, preferably plastic, so that articles carried in the cavity may be observed without opening the key holder body.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a molded plastic key holder having two or more integral plastic loops removably secured within the body of the key holder; one of said loops being a key selector \loop adapted to hold only one or two commonly used keys, such as an ignition key.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter.

The present invention comprises a one-piece key holder having an integral key retaining loop with a free end anchored between folded together body portions of said holder.

In the accompanying drawing wherein like numbers refer to like parts wherever they occur:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is an end view of the present invention,

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the body members in an open position,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary partial sectional view of the stud and socket engagement,

FIG. 6 is a plan view of a modification of the present invention with the body portion in open position,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6,

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged fragmentary view of a modified hinge,

FIG. 9 is an end view of a modification of the present invention showing another hinge construction,

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line id-10 of FIG. 9,

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a further modification of the invention with the body portion in open position,

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary broken sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11,

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a further modification showing transparent sides for the body portion of the key holder, and

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a further modification showing the body portion partly open with coins placed therein.

FIG. 1 shows a one-piece key holder and article receptacle 11) comprising a body portion 11 and an integral key retaining loop 12.

FIG. 3 shows the key holder 10 with the body portion 11 opened up. The body portion 11 includes a first body member 13 and an integral second body member 14 hinged thereto at 15.

The first body member 13 includes a cavity 16 defined therein by an upstanding rim or sidewall 17, a hollow projection 18 positioned in the cavity 16, said projection 18 having an opening terminating in an enlarged cavity 19, and a projecting ear 29 positioned on the outer periphery of the rim 17. The rim 117 is provided with a notch 21 adjacent to and laterally aligned with the projection 18.

The second body member 14 has a cavity 22 defined therein by an upstanding rim or sidewall 23. The rim 23 is provided with a notch 24 which cooperates with the first body member ri-m notch 21 to define an opening to the body cavity when the first member 13 is folded against the second body member 14 (FIG. 2).

An upstanding post or stud 25 is fixed on the second body member 14- and has undercut side walls terminating in an enlarged head 26 which fits into the cavity 19 in the projection 18 on the first body member 13 (FIGS. 4 and 5) to secure said body members together.

A projecting ear 27 on the outer periphery of the rim 23 is positioned immediately to one side of the ear 21) on the first body member rim 17 so that the ears 20 and 27 can be forced in opposite directions to open the body members 13 and 14.

In FIGS. 1-5, the stud 25 and socket 18 latch is positioned about 186 from the hinge means 15 to facilitate opening and closing the body members 13 and 14.

One end of the key retaining loop 12 is integral with the second body member rim 23 at 28 and the free end thereof is provided with an eye 29 which fits over the stud 25 and is thereby anchored to the body portion 11 of the key holder 11). The eye 29 is generally elongated to easily slip through the openings in the heads of normal keys.

The base of the second body member cavity 22 is provided with a recess 30 around the stud 25 to accommodate the key retaining loop eye 29 when the body members 13 and 14 are secured together.

The key loop 12 is received in the rim opening defined by the cooperating notches 21 and 24 in the first body rim 17 and in the second body rim 23, respectively.

The notches 21 and 24 are laterally aligned with the post 25 and pass the key loop 12 out of the body 11 in a direction approximately from the normal direction of force exerted on the key loop 12 by one pulling on a key fastening thereon. Thus there is no direct pull on the post 25 which might tend to bend it and release the loop eye 29.

Although the post anchoring the loop may be positioned so that there is a direct pull upon the post, preferably, the post is so positioned that the normal pulling force is partially taken up by the body of the holder. Any deviation from a direct pull is advantageous, but the greatest effect is achieved when a normal pulling force between the folded together portions.

is acting upon the key loop is transferred to the post through an angle of 90.

The first body member 13 may have an advertising insert 31 positioned in an open sided cavity 32 molded in the outer face thereof with the printed material being covered with a clear plastic snap-in insert 33 so that it may be easily read.

The hinge means 15 is a thin narrow band which flexibly joins the two body halves 13 and 14 and permits the body 11 to be folded upon itself to define a cavity The body cavity defined by the cavities 16 and 22 and the engagement of the body member rims 17 and 23 holds coins (for a parking meter, etc.), pills, cards, drivers license, etc.

In assembling the key holder 10, the eye 29 of the key loop 12 is passed through the openings in the keys and the eye 2) then is engaged with the stud 25. The desired number of coins, etc. are placed within the body 11 of the holder 16 and the body members 13 and 14 are folded together and the stud is pressed into the socket 18 so that the head 26 engages the enlarged cavity 19 with a distinct popping sound. The enlarged head 26 on the post 25 is of greater diameter than the opening in the projection 18 and thus is securely held in the enlarged cavity 19. Since the post 25 and the socket 18 both have some resilienc the members can be disengaged by forcing the ears 26 and 27 apart.

FIGS. 8-10 show modified hinge means which can be used in the present invention. In FIG. 8, the hinge 34 includes a pair of bands 35 and 36 which connect the body sides 13 and 14 and which are spaced by an opening 37.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show a hinge means 38 which cornprises a center strap 39 and cross bars 40 and 41 on each end which strengthen the hinge and resist tearing if the body members 13 and 14 are twisted with respect to each other.

FIG. 13 shows another modification of the basic key holder which has transparent windows 42 (preferably of plastic) on one or both sides of the key holder body so that articles retained in the body cavity can be seen and/or counted without opening the key holder body. FIG. 13 shows pills in the key holder body cavity.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modification of the present invention in which the body members 43 and 44 are rectangular and adapted to hold a drivers license, calling cards, and the like. The fastening means 45 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 comprises a slotted undercut catch 46 having a tapered head 47 positioned on the body member 44 and a U-shaped cooperating catch 48 on the other body member 43. The free leg of the U-shaped catch 48 is adapted to ride on the tapered head 47 and engage the undercut slot 46.

An integral key loop 49 having an eye 50 on the free end is received in a notch 51 on the outer periphery of the body member 44 and engages a post 52 positioned on said body member 44. The post 52 has an enlarged head 52a which secures the loop eye 51) on the post 52 and is similar to the construction shown in FIG. 12. The key holder shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 has the key loop on an end-of the body portion and has the hinges and fastening means opposite to each other, but 90 from the key loop 49.

FIGS. 11, 12 and 14 show further modifications of the present invention which utilize two key retaining loops, one of which is a key selector and may be smaller than the other and intended to hold only one or two frequently used keys, such as an ignition key.

FIG. 11 shows a key holder 55 having integral body members 56 and 57 connected by a hinge 58 and including integral key loops 5% and 60. Means for fastening the body members 56 and 57 in folded together relation includes a hollow projection 61 on the body member 56 and an upstanding stud 62 on the body member 57. An eye 63 on the key loop fits over the stud 62 and when the stud is received and retained within the hollow projection 61, the free end of the key loop 60 is secured to the body of the key holder 55 to form a closed loop. This arrangement is similar to that shown in FIGS. 1-5.

The second key loop 5% includes an eye 64 on the free end thereof 'which is adapted to engage a shortened stud 65 positioned inside the body member 57. The upstanding stud 65 has an enlarged head 66 (FIG. 12) which is slightly larger than the loop eye 64 to retain the loop 59 within the body of the key holder 55.

FIG. 14 shows another modification of the present invention wherein a rectangular key holder 67 includes two hollow body members 68 and 69 hinged together at 70 along one long axis and provided with a suitable fastening means 7 1 (preferably a stud and hollow projection as hereinbefore described in detail). A pair of key loops 72 and 73 are molded integrally with the body member 68 and are retained therein by passing the loop eyes 74 and 75 over upstanding studs 76 and 77 respectively. The studs 7 6 and 77 have enlarged heads as shown in FIG. 12. The interior of the key holder 67 is adapted to hold coins (as shown) and the key loops 72 and 73 are adapted to retain keys (as shown). A number of keys can be positioned on the key loop 72 while the smaller key loop 73 is intended primarily to hold a single key such as the shown ignition key.

The plastic used in making the one-piece key holder and key loop shown in the drawings must have good flexing chanacteristics and good tensile strength. Among plastics presently available, nylon and polypropylene are preferred, but it is contemplated that other materials having similar characteristics also are suitable.

Although the invention has been illustrated in its preferred forms as having a round or rectangular body portion with a coin receiving cavity, it is contemplated that other shapes and types of cavity may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Also, the key holder body can be made without the article receiving cavity.

Thus it is seen that the present invention provides a one-piece plastic key holder and article receptacle which achieves all of the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The present invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A unitary key holder comprising a foldable onepiece body portion adapted to be secured in folded contacting relation, an integral flexible key retaining member having a free end, and means for anchoring the free end of said key retaining member to said body portion in closed loop defining relation, said one-piece body portion including a pair of hinged together body members and said anchoring means comprising a pillar having an opening therein with an enlarged cavity at the base of said opening, and a cooperating upstanding stud having an enlarged head adapted to releasably engage said pillar, said key retaining member being provided with an eye on the free end thereof, said eye being adapted to fit over said stud, said pillar and said stud being positioned in opposed relation on the inner surfaces of said body members whereby the engagement of said stud head in said pillar cavity secures said body members in closed relation and retains the free end of said key retaining member in closed loop defining relation.

2. The key holder defined in claim 1 wherein said body members define an article receiving cavity therebetween.

3. The key holder defined in claim 1 wherein off-set ears are positioned on the outer peripheral edge of said body members adjacent to said stud and pillar means to facilitate disengaging said stud from said tubular socket.

4. A unitary plastic key holder comprising a foldable one-piece body, an integral flexible key retaining member having a free end with an eye thereon, and means for securing the free end of said key retaining member to the body and for locking the body in folded contacting relation, said means comprising a hollow pillar positioned on a first portion or" the body and an upstanding stud positioned on a second portion of the body whereby the key loop eye is adapted to receive the stud and the stud in turn is adapted to engage the hollow projection when the body portions are in folded contacting relation.

5. The key holder defined in claim 4 including a second selector key loop provided with an eye on the free end thereof, and a cooperating stud positioned Within said body and having an enlarged head, said eye being passed over said head to secure said key loop to said body in loop defining relation.

6. The key holder defined in claim 4 wherein said key retaining member enters the key holder body through an opening provided therein such that the normal direct pull upon said key loop is transferred to said stud through an angle of approximately 90.

7. A unitary key holder comprising a foldable onepiece body portion having a cavity therein and an opening communicating said cavity with the outer surface of said body, said body portion adapted to be secured in folded contacting relation, an integral flexi 1e key retaining member having a free end, and means positioned Within said body cavity for anchoring the free end of said key retaining member within said body, said body opening receiving said key retaining member therein and being so positioned relative to said anchor means and said flexible key retaining member that the force of a normal pull on said key retaining member is partially taken up by said body and is transferred to said anchor means through an acute angle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,511,651 Schlitz June 13, 1950 2,793,842 Bacon May 28, 1957 2,816,434 Olson Dec. 17, 1957 2,871,691 Bacon Feb. 3, 1959 2,924,088 Goldman Feb. 9, 1960 2,985,006 Du Bois May 23, 1961 3,037,616 Phipps June 5, 1962 

1. A UNITARY KEY HOLDER COMPRISING A FOLDABLE ONEPIECE BODY PORTION ADAPTED TO BE SECURED IN FOLDED CONTACTING RELATION, AN INTEGRAL FLEXIBLE KEY RETAINING MEMBER HAVING A FREE END, AND MEANS FOR ANCHORING THE FREE END OF SAID KEY RETAINING MEMBER TO SAID BODY PORTION IN CLOSED LOOP DEFINING RELATION, SAID ONE-PIECE BODY PORTION INCLUDING A PAIR OF HINGED TOGETHER BODY MEMBERS AND SAID ANCHORING MEANS COMPRISING A PILLAR HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN WITH AN ENLARGED CAVITY AT THE BASE OF SAID OPENING, AND A COOPERATING UPSTANDING STUD HAVING AN ENLARGED HEAD ADAPTED TO RELEASABLY ENGAGE SAID PILLAR, SAID KEY RETAINING MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH AN EYE ON THE FREE END THEREOF, SAID EYE BEING ADAPTED TO FIT OVER SAID STUD, SAID PILLAR AND SAID STUD BEING POSITIONED IN OPPOSED RELATION ON THE INNER SURFACES OF SAID BODY MEMBERS WHEREBY THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID STUD HEAD IN SAID PILLAR CAVITY SECURES SAID BODY MEMBERS IN CLOSED RELATION AND RETAINS THE FREE END OF SAID KEY RETAINING MEMBER IN CLOSED LOOP DEFINING RELATION. 